On New Year’s Eve Dave & I headed west. West to Hawaii for a three week, very relaxing vacation. We stayed with Jim and Pat in Honolulu and used our touring bikes to get around. We returned to some of our favourite places and discovered some new ones. For five days we were on the island of Kauai enjoying the hiking trails.
Thank you Jim & Pat for being such wonderful hosts and giving us the chance to visit.
Hey Jx, check out those avocados!
We always managed to find some good food: Burgers from Kua Aina and fresh prawns from Kimo’s on the North Shore.
Video:
We bought some snorkeling gear and spent lots of time in the water spotting fish and sea cucumbers.
And then there was some hiking on Kauai:
And of course, there was biking. One of our favourite bike routes was out through Hawaii Kai up to Makapu’u then back around Koko Head Crater and Hanauma Bay. We kept a close eye on the ocean which was on our left, hoping to spot the breaching humpback whales.
This past Saturday and Sunday were full of fun, long rides and meeting lots of new people.
On Saturday we were with Kim and Marc for their Annual MonsterCross Ride through The Valley. Despite the rain we had a great ride that took us up the escarpment twice ending at Webster’s Falls and The Peak to take in the beautiful fall colours. Marc and Kim lead a great ride and served up some smashing grilled cheeses afterwards. It was a great way to spend a rainy morning.
Along one of the paths just below the train tracks we came upon some evidence of an “encounter” gone bad. Here is Mr. Summers trying to revive Bambi.
On Sunday, even before the sun rose, I was loaded into the Prouse mobile to drive to north of Mansfield to do a charity ride for Steve Reynolds. To save me some explaining, check out this ride. The morning started with a 50km Epic Ride through the Dufferin Forest and Mansfield property. Upon returning to home base we had free beer and the most amazing dinner including fresh buttermilk rolls! There was a Silent Auction section and Dave & I went a “little” crazy over the coffee. (We came home with over 15lbs of coffee plus a years supply. So if you ever have a craving for coffee and in our neighbourhood, stop on by. I am sure will have enough!) Hugh donated a custom True North bike fitted out with Chris King to help raise some money for the Reynolds family. The draw for this bike will be held on November 13th (and tickets are still available). To top off the great day, we were entertained by Juno Award winner Jesse Cook. I honestly couldn’t see his fingers moving on the guitar and he made the most beautiful sound.
You know, I think I need more weekends like that. Meeting new people. Riding new trail. And helping others.
Over these past couple of weeks, we have been having some canine friends come to stay with us.
First off was Ribsy and Mirabel
They made themselves quite comfortable on our couch.
And our second canine guest was Daisy (Doodle Dog). We took her to the Firefighters Chili Cook-off on Augusta Street where she was fawned over by big, burly firefighters. Come on guys. She a tiny, hairless dog! Get a grip. Afterwards, we grabbed a bite to eat at One Duke. Daisy had to be “outside” the patio due to regulations. (No dogs allowed on the patio but you can inhale all the CO from the passing cars. Grrr) Anyway we set Daisy up on the adjacent sidewalk. In hindsight, we should’ve put a little dish beside her. We could’ve made some money given all the attention she received!
And to top off the past couple of weeks, I raced the Provincial MTB Race at Woodnewton. It was pretty much the most perfect Singlespeed course: double track uphills and single track downhill. It was the only race that I could actually pass people on the doubletrack. Usually I get smoked as the doubletracks are downhill or flat. Anyway, I felt really strong the whole course despite the rain! Ended up 3rd for this race and 3rd overall. Not too shabby for only riding 2 O-cups! Unfortunately though, given the dwindling numbers of crazy SS women, I expect this category will be folded next year.
The last O-cup I did was May 2009 at Albion Hills. After that memorable race I took a break from the O-Cup series. My plan last year was to prepare and ride the O-Cup series again this year but my training plan fell apart after having H1N1 twice this winter along with the Norwalk Virus and to top it off, an ear infection. Needless to say, my goals were delayed by a couple of months.
So finally I was ready to do the O-Cups again and Kelso was the lucky venue. Brilliant day and fun, fun course. And a fast course. Had a full house in the womens SS category: Shannon, Kim and myself. Shannon was off like a shot and ended up with a 5 minute gap! Amazing. There was just no way I could catch her. On the second climb of the escarpment, while I was trying to get my lungs back into my chest, I looked back and saw Kim coming up the hill. Damn, she is going to make me work for this second place! I hit the top and gave everything I had left to hold onto second.
It was fun time pushing the limits and being back in the race scene.
On the Sunday the weather was perfect for riding a mountain bike. Dave & I decided last minute to race the Canal Days Mountain Bike Race run out of Port Colborne by the Short Hills Cycling Club. We have never ridden these trails and were looking forward to trying something new. We were also looking forward to seeing the Vegan Vagabond again. Our paths do not cross much with our schedules and locations.
The course was great. Lots of singletrack with rocks, drops, bridges, off-camber sections and tight corners. I was suffering some mechanical problems heading into the race. I know. I know. Singlespeeds are not to have mechanical problems! I somehow managed to get two! My crank arms were rattling around in the bottom bracket and then my rear brake wasn’t working. Following a very quick fix in the parking lot about 20 minutes before the start of the race (thanks Dave!), I got the rear brake to work by squeezing the lever right up against the bar. No modulation. Just off or on.
As the race proceeded my brake got worse. Then the cranks started rattling even more. And then to top it off, a bee flew down my bra and stung me on the chest. That was the final straw. As fantastic as the course was, I had to DNF after the first lap. Overall though I had a great day riding and spending it with Kim and Marc and Tanya (and Dave, of course). Thanks guys.
Here’s Kim & I heading down one of the many short, steep hills. Notice my right hand is completely clenched around my brake lever and handlebar!
